Res Gestae

Ammianus Marcellinus

Ammianus Marcellinus. Ammianus Marcellinus, with an English translation, Vols. I-III. Rolfe, John C., translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; W. Heinemann, 1935-1940 (printing).

The complete series of events in those regions, the death of the governor Ruricius and of the ambassadors and the other mournful occurrences I shall set forth carefully when my plan calls for it.

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But since I have a free opportunity of saying what I think, I shall declare openly that Valentinian was the first of all emperors to increase the arrogance of the military,[*](I.e., of the officers.) to the injury of the commonwealth, by raising their rank and power to excess; moreover (a thing equally to be deplored, both publicly and privately), he punished the peccadilloes of the common soldiers with unbending severity, while sparing those of higher rank; so that these assumed that they had complete licence for their sins, and were aroused to shameful and monstrous crimes. In consequence, they are so arrogant as to believe that the fortunes of all without distinction are dependent on their nod.

In order to diminish their bluster and self-importance, the lawgivers of old were of the opinion that sometimes even some innocent persons should be punished with death. And this often happens when, because of the wrongdoings of any multitude, through the injustice of fate, some guiltless persons suffer; for that sometimes has applied to the trials of private citizens.

Now in Isauria bands of brigands were over-[*](368 A.D.) running the neighbouring places,[*](Cf. xiv. 2, 1 ff.; xix. 13, 1.) harassing towns and rich villas with unrestrained pillage, and inflicting great losses on Pamphylia and the Cilicians.[*](Cf. Zos. iv. 20.) Musonius, the deputy-governor[*](The lieutenant-governor was a subordinate of the pretorian prefect. In so far as the latter could not himself administer all the parts (dioceses) of his province, the vicarius took his place.) of Asia at that time, who had formerly been a teacher of rhetoric in Attic Athens, perceived that, since no one resisted them, they were devastating everything with utter destruction; so at last, finding the situation deplorable and that the luxury of the soldiers made their aid

v3.p.61

feeble, he gathered together a few half-armed troops, whom they call Diogmitæ,[*](From διωγμός, pursuit, so-called because they were employed as light-armed troops to pursue the enemy; cf. Capit., Ant. Phil., 21, 7.) and attempted to attack. one band of the marauders, if the opportunity should offer. But in passing down through a narrow and winding pass he came into an ambuscade from which he could not escape, and was slain there with those whom he was leading.

When the brigands, highly elated by this success, with greater confidence extended their raids in various directions, at last our troops were called out and after killing some of them drove the rest to the rocky retreats in the mountains where they live. Then, since no opportunity was revealed there for taking rest or finding anything fit for food, they called a truce and asked that peace be granted them, following the advice of the Germanicopolitani,[*](Germanicopolis was the principal city of the free Isaurians; Seleucia, of Roman Isauria.) whose opinions were always decisive with them, as if they were those of the standard-bearers in battle. Then they gave the hostages that were demanded, and remained quiet for a long time, without venturing on any hostile act.

Meanwhile Praetextatus, who with high distinction acted as prefect of the city of[*](367–8 A.D.) Rome,[*](In A.D. 367; he was formerly proconsular governor in Achaia; cf. xxii. 7, 6.) through repeated acts of honesty and uprightness, for which he was famous from early youth, attained what rarely falls to a man’s lot; for although he was feared by his fellow-citizens, he did not lose their love, which as a rule is apt to be less strong towards officials who are dreaded.